Electrical control for valves



Jan. 16, 1940. D. H. MccoRKLE 2,187,045

ELECTRICAL CONTROL FOR VALVES Filed Dec. 10, 1937 2 Shee'lzs-Sheei'l l Jan. 16', 1940. D. H. MccoRgLE l 2,187,045

ELECTRICAL CONTROL FOR VALVES l t Hngen/aff M75/afn@ Patented Jan. 16, 1940 l `UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONTROL FOR VALVES Donald H. McCorkle, Berkeley, Calif., assigner to D. H. McCorkle Co., Berkeley, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 10, 1937, Serial No. 179,131

16 Claims. (Cl. 137-144) This invention, an electrical control for fuel Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation through the valves is mainly intended for use as an auxiliary invention, shown attached to a iioat valve condevice for 'attachment to standard types of fuel trol of standard construction, and is taken on ilow control valves and devices for fuel oil burna line I-I of Fig. 2,. ing systems, and is intended to place the flow Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, with the 5 and feeding of fuel oil under direct control of l cover removed.

a room thermostat.. The application is not lim- Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, ited to the control of fuel, as it may readily be and shows the interior construction of one type adapted for the control of valves for other fluids of float valve to which theinvention is adapted.

and purposes. Fig. 4 is a Wiring diagram showing a method 10 The objects and advantages of the invention of furnace control adapted to the invention. are as follows; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View showing a modi- First; to provide means through the medium cation of the invention, in which a solenoid of which a fuel Valve for a furnace is directly replaces the resistance-heated warp element. 1" under the control of a room thermostat. This invention is an improvement over the )5 Second; to provide a means of the type outform of float valve control illustrated and delined which is attachable to standard types of scribed in copending application, Serial Numvalves. ber 82,869, filed June 1, 1936, now Patent No. Third; to provide a means as outlined which 143,277 granted Jan. 10, 1939, Figs. 9 and '10, will control the metering and inlet valves of a in which the attachment operates directly on fuel control valve in such manner that either the reset and release levers of the valve, and also valve may be caused to open before the other in over that shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 ofl that appliany sequential time-delay relation, and in which cation, in which only the inlet valve is controlled, the valves are very slowly opened so as to admit while this invention controls both, the admisfuel to the burner of the furnace at gradually sion valve and the metering valve, and does not increasing volume as the burner becomes heated, interfere with the usual functioning of the valves and in which the sequence of closing of the valves for closing and merely delays the opening. can be governed at Will. Also, the warp thermostat element described Fourth; to provide a control as outlined with and claimed in copending application, Serial n a single electrically-actuated element for con- Number 614,412, filed May 31, 1932, for Electric trolling both valves. valve, now Patent No. 2,118,443, granted May Fifth; to provide the single electrically-actu- 24, 1938, is well suited for use in conjunction ated element in the form of a resistance heated with this invention, as is also the warp element bi-metallic warp element. illustrated and described in the first mentioned Sixth; to provide the control with high-low application. 35 metering means which is adjustable at will, and This invention is an attachment for use with independently adjustable for high and low fire standard types of fuel flow controls, and may operation. be incorporated directly into a float valve con- Seventh; to provide a control as outlined which trol unit if desired, and is illustrated as applied will not interfere with the normal functioning to one form of standard float valve consisting of 40 of the valves for closing, but which will positivea fuel chamber Il) having a safety-float chamly close the valves in the event of current failure ber I I in which a float I2 operates when oil overor breaking of the circuit by the room thermoflows the dam I3, such as would occur in case stat. the fuel admission valve failed to close. A latch Eighth; to provide means for releasing the. lever I4 has one end pivotally connected to the 4- valves to open at will in the event of current failfloat I2 as indicated at I5, and is pivotally mounture, and to provide latching means therefor, ed adjacent its other end as indicated at I6 to which latching means is automatically releasable the housing I0 and terminates in a release lever when the electric circuit has been re-established. Ilwhich extends through the Wall of the hous- Other objects and advantages of the invening for nger release, and also has a depending 50 tion Will become apparent as the following delatch I8 which is cooperatively related to a scription is read on the drawings forming a part lug I9. of this specification, and in which similar ref- The lug I9 is integral with an admission valve erence characters are used to designate similar closing lever 20 which has a finger extension parts throughout the several'views. of which; 2l for resetting the lever 20 for releasing the 65 admission valve for opening, and is pivoted to the housing at its other end as indicated at 22, and a compression spring 23 acts between the abutment 24 formed on the housing, and a -shoulder 25 formed on lever 20, the spring acting to thrust the lever 20 down.

An admission valve 26 having a stem 21 is normally resiliently maintained open through the medium of a leaf spring 28 lifting on a pin 29 which is fixed in the stem 21, this spring being fixed to one end of a lever 36 which is pivcted intermediate its ends at 3I in a bracket 32 mounted in the housing I0, the other end of the lever having aoat 33 attached thereto, and a metering valve 34 is normally manually adjusted from the top of the housing, this manual control being removed for use of this invention.

Thus, when the housing I6 is empty, and levers I4 and 26 are set as shown, valve 26 is open, and when the flow of oil from supply is released, it flows into chamber I0, raising iioat 33 which closes the valve after a predetermined level is reached. If the valve should fail to close properly, increase in fuel level will overflow the dam I3, raise float I2 and release latch I8 from lug I9, and spring 23 then forces lever 29 down, engaging the top of the stem 21 and closing the admission valve tightly to prevent further ingress of fuel.

The parts so far described'are standard and do not form a part of the invention,

The invention consists of an attachment consisting of a housing 35 having a cover 36, and which housing is mounted on top of .the cover 31 of housing I8, and a bottom38 is formed in housing 35'in spaced relation to the cover 31.

A thermo-warp element, consisting of two bimetal leaves 39 and 40 with a resistance unit 4I sandwiched therebetween, is fixedly mounted on a pedestal extending up from the bottom 38 as 4 indicated at 42, and suitable terminals 43 are provided for the terminals of the heating resistance 4I. l

An adjusting screw 44 is mounted in the free end of the warp element, and a bracket 45 is also secured to the free end of the warp element, and to which bracket is secured an arm 46 on which a mercury switch 4,1 isl mounted for adjustment on, and relative to the arm as shown, a suitable insulated passage 48 being provided for the terminals 49 of the mercury switch.

A hinge bracket 50 is also secured to the end of the warp element, as by the screw 44, and a latch 5I having an engaging shoulder 52 and release shoulder 53 and a head 54 is pivotally mounted on bracket 50 and extends through an opening in the cover 36, as shown. The shoulder 52 is so located that it will catch on the cover to support the warp element in partly warped condition, but not to the full extent of the warp created by the resistance heating element.

A metering valve plunger 55 is provided with an adjustable head 66 and is urged to normally open the metering valve 34 by means of a compression spring 61, which acts between the top of the cover 21 or a pocket formed therein, and the disc 56.-

Metering means for the valve for high and low fire consists of a head 58 which is iixedly mounted in the housing 35 as indicated at 59 and provided with a passage 60 for the threaded extension 6I of the metering valve stem 55, and with an adjusting screw 62 for cooperation with the disc 56. Low flame adjustment is obtained by adjustment of nut 63 on extension 6I, and high flame adjustment is obtained by adjustment `of screw 62.

'I'he control for the admission valve 26 consists of a plunger 64 which passes through a hole 65 formed through the lever 26 with the lower end. of the. plunger cooperatively related to lever 30 and urged away therefrom by a compression spring 66 which acts between the cover 31 and a disc 61 formed or mounted at the upper end of plunger 64, this plunger reciprocably operating in a bearing 68 secured to or formed in the cover 31, and the disc 61 has'an extension 69 terminatmentioned copending application which includes the room thermostat 13, time delay relay 14,

micro-switch 15, operating thermostat 16, transformers 11 and 18, igniter 19, burner 80, and main lin-e wires '8| and 82.

The modification consists of the new control arrangement including the valve plungers 64 .and 55 for the respective admission and metering lcation of the wiring diagram shown in the first valves and the equalizing cross arrn 12, mercury switch 41 which controls operation of a forced draft fan or booster motor 83 for induced draft in the furnace, thevonly variation in wiring from the previously mentioned wiring diagram consisting in the connection 84 from one power line 82 to` switch 41, a connection 49 from switch 41 to motor 83, and a connection 85 from 4line 8l to motor 83.

The operation of the attachment and control valve is as follows;

'Ihe normal relation of parts is; warp element 39-40-4I cold and deflected down, overcoming the tension of springs 51 and 66 and closing both valves 34 and 26 by depressing lever 38, and levers I4 and 20 set and latched'as shown, and switch 41 open. If too much oil enters chamber I0 and flows over dam I3, trigger I8 will be tripped andv lever 28 will add its force to close valve 26, therefore the invention does not Ainterfere with the' normal operation of the trip.

vWhen the circuit is completed through the room thermostat 13, a circuit is completed through wirel 86, heating resistance 4I and wire 81 and the thermo-warp element 39-40 begins to warp upwardly to a position shown in Fig. 1, releasi- 'ing both valves 26 and 34 to open very slowly,

at the same time tilting the mercury switch 412 motor to operate for a while after the circuit is broken to the resistance 4I to complete combustion of the fed fuel. I

The valves may be caused to operate for initial opening in sequenceA by either varying the tension of the two springs, or `by having screw '46 cooperate at a point oii centeron the crossarm 12, closer to one valve stem than -to the other,

and is preferably adjusted to open the admission valve in advance of the metering valve.

If the device is to be operated for high-low nre, nut 63 is adjusted to the position for the ydesired low, and screw 62-is adjusted for the desired high, and screw 1| is adjusted down to keep valve 26 constantly released to open.

Under such conditions the warp element has no eiect on valve 26 at any time, and the metering valve lifts only as far as, the screw 62 will i permit and will be depressed only as far as nut 63 will permit, therefore suilicient yopening is provided for constant low fire and the valve is permitted to .open only very slowly when changing from low to high or from high to low.

In the event that current should be interrupted, the latch 5| is provided so that the valves can be released to open by pulling up this latch and catching the shoulder 5? on the edge of the openingl through which it passes, this shoulder being so located that it will sustain the warp element at a value below the maximum warp creatable by the heating resistance, therefore, when current is re-established, further warp of the element will cause the inclined shoulder 53 to ride on the edge of the opening and force the latch back to clear, thus being automatically releasable, or, a spring 8B may be employed to throw the latch back to clear when the warp element warps sufficiently to release the latch.

The arrangement described operates to release the valves to open very slowly and to close them slowly, and is absolutely quiet in operation, and is therefore preferred over the magnetic type fragmentarily shown in Fig. 5, in which a solenoid 89 has its core 90 attached to the cross arm 12.

With this magnetic type of actuator, the opening and closing of the valves is instantaneous and abrupt, and in addition to the snap report eachA time the solenoid opera-tes to either retract' or release, there is also, with alternating current, the constant hum while the solenoid remains energized. 'I'his noise is all obviated by the use of .urging said metering valve to open; a thermowarp element cooperatively related to said valves and maintaining said valves in closed position against the respective actions of said float and said spring when said warp element is cold and slowly releasing said valves to open when said warp element becomes heated.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, and spanning compensating means pivotally cooperating between said valves and with said thermo-warp element to insure complete closing of both valves by said thermo-warpl element and controlling said valves for sequential operation.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 1. spanning compensatingmeanspivotallycooperatingbetween said valves and intermediately with said warp velement effecting complete closing of both valves by said warp element and controlling said valves for sequential operation, and adjusting means coincidently forming the pivotally cooperative means and comprising a screw mounted in said thermo-warp element for adjusting the closing tension on the valves as applied through said warp element.

-4. A structure as claimed in claiml, and a cross arm having its ends associated with said valves and cooperating intermediate its length with said thermo-warp element creating sequential initial release of said valves to open as said thermo-warp element becomes heated.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 1, and means associated with said admission valve and having a screw adjustable at will to maintain said admission valve released to open when saidthermowarp element is cold, and means cooperatively related to said metering valve 'and adjustable at will limiting the degree of opening of said valve; and means associated with said metering valve and adjustable at will limiting the degree of closing of said metering valve.

6. A structure as claimed in claim 1, a cover; and latch means associated with said thermowarp element and operatingtthrough and adapted to engage said cover for manually warping lsaid warp element to release said valves to open when said warp element is cold, and cam means formed on said latch means releasing said latch a plunger cooperatively related to each valve; a

thermo-warp element cooperatively associated with said plungers and having a heating resistance and a circuit therefor; a lii't spring ass@- ciated with each plunger and normally urging release of said valves to open; said plungers being urged by said thermo-warp element to` close said valves when said thermo-warp element is cold, said thermo-warp element slowly releasing said plungers to release said valves as said thermowarp element is heated by said resistance upon completion of said circuit and slowly urging said means to close said valves whenfsaid circuit is interrupted.

8. A structure as claimed in claim '7, and a cross arm having its ends cooperating with said plungers and cooperating intermediate its length with said thermo-warp'element for eifectingf'suitable closing of both valves and providing sequential release of the valves in accordance with the relative tension of said springs.

9. A structure as claimed in claim `'7, a cover for said control; and latch means manually accessible and associated with said thermo-warp element andpadapted to engage said cover for manually warping and securing said warp element in a condition of warp to predetermined degree, and cam means associated with said latch means releasing said warp element for normal functioning after said warp element has been warped to a greater degree through the influence of said heating resistance. A

10. In a oat valve control having anadmission valve and a metering valve; a control ior associated with each of said vvalves and a spring i normally urgingeacli plunger to release its associated valve to open; a thermostatic element cooperatively associated with said plungers and normally urging said plungers to close said valves; a cover for said control; and manually operable latch means 'associated with said thermostatic element and engageably relatedvto said cover for restraining said element when said latch means is engaged from urging said plungers; means for heating said thermostatic element and control means for said heating means; said manually .operable latch means including cam means cooperatively related to said cover and automatically releasing said element for normal functioning when said thermostatic element has been influenced to a predetermined degree by said heating means and actuated through warping of said element under the iniluence of heat and cooperationv with said cover.

11. A structure as claimed in claim 10; stop means adjustable to two positions and associated with the said plunger for said admission valve maintaining said plunger against urgence by said thermostatic element when in one position to maintain said admission valve release to open and permitting closing of the valve in the other position.

12. A structure as claimed in claim l0; stop y means adjustable to two positions and-associated l i with the said plunger for said admission valve maintaining said plunger against thev urgence of said thermostatic element 'when said stop means is in one position to maintain said admission valve released to open and permitting 5 closing of the valve when the stop means is in its other position; and movement limiting means associated with the plunger for said metering valve, and adjustableat will to limit said meterr ing valve to predetermined degrees of .opening and closing. f

13. An electrical control for oatlvalve controls having an admission valve and a metering valve; a plunger associated with each valve and.

a spring associated with each plunger urging g said plungers to release said valves to open; a

bi-metal thermo-warp element cooperatively associated with said plungers and having a heating resistance and a circuit therefor and a control ment of said thermo-warp element following completion of said circuit, for subsequent normal functioning of said Warp element.

14. A structure as claimed in claim 13; a cross arm pivotally associated intermediate its lengthl with said warp element and terminally with said plungers, and thereby compensating for variations in necessary travel of the respective plungers to assure suitable closing oi'Y both valves and to permit opening and closing of the respective valves in sequential relation.

15. A structure as claimed in claim 13; compensating means comprising a cross arm pivotally associated intermediate its length with said warp element and terminally cc'yperating with said plungers compensating for variations in necessary travel of said plungers to insure sultable closing of both valves and to permit opening and closing of the respective valves in sequential relation; stop means associated with the plungers for said admissionI valve and adjustable at will to two positions to prevent closing of said admission valve through the urgence of said warp element when in one position and to permit closing of said admission valve when said stop means is in its other position; and movement limiting means for the plunger for said metering valve and adjustable at will to limit opening of said metering valve to a predetermined degree and for limiting closingof said metering valve under the urgence of said warp element to a predetermined degree.

16. A float valve control comprising a housing; a thermo-warp element and a heating resistance therefor and a circuit for said heating resistance. said thermo-warp element being secured byone of its ends toy said housing, and having an adjustable screw mounted at the other of its ends; a plurality of spaced-apart plungers each asso- 'ciated with a valve, and a lift spring for each `under the influence of its lift spring and to linut the depression thereof to a predetermined degree under the influence of 4said warp element.

DONALD H. M'cconm. 

